"Chop, Chop, Time for bed" Mummy says.
I shake my head. I don't want to go to bed. When I go to bed Stella comes and sees me.
"Mummy, can't I sleep with you and Daddy tonight?" I ask.
It's her turn to shake her head.
"Laura, your a big girl now, big girls sleep in they're own bed."
"But- Mum I'm only five!" I say holding up six fingers.
"Laura." She says in a voice I know not to mess with.
I look down and say:
"Okay Mummy."
I trod down the hall to my bedroom that I used to love. My Barbie posters are stuck on the wall, and I have a fluffy pink rug. It doesn't mask the obvious decay. I climb into my bed and Daddy comes in and turns the lights out.

I hear a whisper.
"Are they gone? Can I come out now?"
I say: "Yes."
Stella climbs out from under my bed. She grunts with effort and I hold out my hand to help her.
"That's better," she groans sitting on my rug.
"Hello." I say
"Hi," she says.
Then she says something unexpected.
"Do you want me to tell you a story?"
"Ok?"
"This is the story of how I killed my parents."
"WHAT!" I scream and I hear my Dad's footsteps on the floor.
She grumbles.
"You've really done it now." And dives back under my bed.
My Dad opens the door and turns on the lights.
" I was talking to Stella." I say beaming at him.
"Laura! You're getting to old to have imaginary friends!" He yells.
I feel my eyes burn and my stomach roars with anger.
"SHE IS NOT IMAGINARY!"
"YES SHE IS!" He yells back.

Then a voice comes from under my bed.
"I."
"AM."
"NOT."
"IMAGINARY."
My Dad backs away as Stella slowly unfurls herself and stands up.
"Y-You." He stammers.
"Hello, Mike, Nice to see you again." She says.
"YOU-YOUR DEAD THOUGH!" He shrieks.
"I was. For quite some time. Not any more though,"She says menacingly
"It's time to pay back a favor" she whispers and holds out a hand. She flicks it and a gold light comes out of my Dad's mouth.
"What-What are you doing?" I ask.
She smiles proudly.
"Draining his life force."
"What?"